Origins of the Shanahan Clan

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Origins of the Shanahan Clan

Ethnography of the Shanahans.

The Érainn

The second of five racio-ethnic groups to arrive in Ireland from the Continent between 500 and 100 B.C. They intermarried with the first group in Ireland, the Cruithne who were of Pict-Celtic origin. The Érainn culture, known as La Téne, established itself on the island as a military aristocracy possessing superior weapons technology. In the North the Érainn were called the Ulaid and in the South they were called the Desi. By AD 600 there were several population centers of the Érainn which gave rise to several tribes, of which the Dal gCais were one.¹ [Dalcassian is the modern term we use]

The Dal gCais

The Dal gCais were the great clan of Thomond, or North Munster, an area more especially associated with County Clare (excluding the Burren and the Corcomroe on the northwest corner) and adjacent parts of Tipperrary and Limerick. They were the footsoldiers who formed the core of the army that defeated the Vikings in 1014, one of the most significant dates in Gaelic history. The chief families of this tribe were above all the O'Briens, but also MacConsidines, MacDonnells, McLysaghts, MacMahons, O'Ahernes, O'Kennedys, O'Shanahans, O'Duracks, MacGraths, O'Fogartys, O'Galvins, O'Gradys, O'Hanrahans, O'Hickeys, O'Mearas, O'Molonys, O'Moroneys, O'Hartagans, O'Lonergans, Creaghs, O'Quins, MacNamaras, MacInerneys, O'Deas and O'Griffeys.

The O'Briens (O Briain) were the chief family of Dal gCais, otherwise known as the Dalcassians, and the heads of the family were the kings of Thomond.² Ui Tordealbhaigh is the clan name of the O'Briens. ³

Ui Bloid were a branch of the Ui Tordealbhaigh whose territory originally lay around the deanery of Omulled in the east of County Clare. Besides the O'Shanahans and O'Duracks, the Ui Bloid comprised the chiefly families of O'Aherne and O'Kennedy. In the 1300's the O'Ahernes and the families under their protection (i.e., the O'Shanahans) were driven away from their territory around Six-mile-bridge by the MacNamaras. They were found afterwards chiefly in Limerick, Cork and Waterford.⁴

Derivatives of the Name.

Shannon or O'Shannon is also found as Shanahan, Shanan and Shanihan which may derive from three distinct Irish sources. The first source of the Shannon name is from 0"Seanain, an ancient family associated with counties Carlow and Wexford. Literally means descendant of Senan, a personal name.

Another source of the name is an anglicization of Mac Giolla t-Seanain, a name indicating the "son of the follower of St. Senan'. This is normally changed to Giltenan but in county Clare it has become Shannon, a synonym for Shanahan.

The stated early ancestor of the Shannons was Coscrach, a brother of Cineadh (Kennedy of Thomond). Cosrach was the son of Donchadh Cuan and was the grandfather of Seanchan who started the sept of O' Seanchain.⁵ It is this branch that was dispossessed of their property in the 1300's by the McNamara's .⁶

References:

1. p. 61, Cairney, C. Thomas. (2000) Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland: An Ethnography of the Gael, A.D. 500-1750. Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books.
2. p. 66, Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. p. 67, Ibid.
5. Source unknown, but am looking to verify.
6. Woulfe. 1992. Irish Names and Surnames.; Cairney, C. Thomas